Chapter: 146

Noticing his bold stare, heat rose to Alicia's cheeks.

She quickly sank deeper into the water, her arms instinctively wrapping around her chest in a feeble attempt to shield herself.

Caden's gaze lingered, his eyes dark and unapologetic, before he spoke, his voice low and almost teasing. "Why bother covering up? I've already seen it all."

The words stunned her into silence.

Even with the subtle tension that crackled between them, she knew he wouldn't dare make a move-at least, not here.

When he stood, his towering form cast a shadow over her. With a lazy smirk, he said, "Go ahead and wash yourself up."

Alicia hurried through the bath. Less than twenty minutes later, she limped out, her skin flushed and damp.

Caden was waiting, lounging in a chair draped in nothing but a dark robe.

In his hand, he held a small bottle of ointment.

Earlier, he'd taken a moment to check her injured knee-thankfully, the bruise wasn't serious. The ointment would be enough to soothe it.

Without hesitation, Alicia accepted the bottle.

She poured a bit of the cool liquid into her palm before gently rubbing it into the sore spot.

Outside, the weather had taken a turn for the worse, the rain drumming steadily against the windows.

Yet inside, the room glowed with the soft amber light of the Lamps.

Despite the brooding atmosphere, the warmth of Caden's presence unexpectedly made her feel safe, as if he could keep the darkness at bay.

He didn't speak, his attention fixed on the brewing storm outside, but his expression was distant, unreadable.

Minutes ticked by, the silence between them growing heavy.

Suddenly, a sudden flash of lightning slashed across the sky, and the thunder that followed was deafening.

Startled, Alicia's gaze flew to Caden.

Only then did she notice the slight tremor in his tightly clenched fists.

Her breath caught in her throat.

For all his usual composure and arrogance, she would never have guessed that the domineering Caden could be rattled by something as ordinary as a thunderstorm.

Normally, she might have teased him for it. But tonight, with the storm crashing around them, she bit back the words.

Because she too was afraid of thunder.

It was a fear she'd carried since the night her parents died.

Every crack of lightning and gust of wind seemed to mock her taunting her loneliness. Wrapped up tightly in blankets, she'd spent countless nights staring into the blackness, hoping for some comfort that never came.

No one had been there to whisper, "Don't be afraid."

So she'd seal her eyes shut, willing herself to endure until the Light of dawn.

As another flash of lightning sliced through the dark sky, Alicia called out, "Caden."

He slowly turned his head toward her.